350 Pack Raucous Session On Smoker Park Project

April 22, 1993|By CINDY ELMORE, Staff Writer

FORT LAUDERDALE -- A raucous gathering of more than 350 people packed a hearing Wednesday, most of them opposed to a controversial downtown apartment plan that eats up part of the riverfront Smoker Park.

Because more than 60 people signed up to speak, the city`s Planning and Zoning Board had not taken a vote on the $34 million New River Village & Marketplace late Tuesday night. The plan also requires City Commission approval.

The development group, which includes several of the county`s most influential businessmen, brought a bevy of supporters from the business community, who said Fort Lauderdale desperately needs downtown housing.

``I`ve heard traffic and I`ve heard trees, but it`s also crucial to put people to work,`` said Linda Gill, chairwoman of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce.

The development would put 401 apartments, a restaurant and shops on 11.5 acres on the south shore of New River, just west of Federal Highway. Broward last year leased most of the land to the developers for 99 years.

City officials see the project as an improvement over the many deteriorated roads and parking lots now on much of the property.

But it also destroys more than half of Smoker Park, a seldom-used green oasis by the river and the last large stand of southern live oaks in Fort Lauderdale. Around its buildings and on the two acres to be preserved, the developer has promised to save 134 trees and move 139. Thirty-four will be cut. ``I can count on one hand in the past year how many times I`ve seen people use that park,`` said Marty Kurtz, a Downtown Development Authority board member. ``What good is a park if nobody uses it?``

Plenty, said opponents. They pleaded the whole park be saved.

``If it is a goal of the city`s to be the best concrete city of its size by 1994, then we`re well on our way,`` said Kathleen Burgener, a local attorney.